Wheel-cultivator



D. F. HUNT. WHEEL GULTIVATOR.

(No Model.)

#114- Patented Nov. 25, 1890..

'A UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DOCTOR FRANKLIN HUNT, OF ELBERTON, lVAsHlNGTON.

WH EEL-CULTIVAT'OR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 441,414, dated November 25, 1890.' Application led July 15,1890. Serial No. 358,794- (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DOCTOR FRANKLN HUNT, a citizen of the United States,'residing at Elberton, in the county of Whitman and State ofplVashington, have invented a new and useful Wheelf-Cultivator, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to wheelcultvators for the purpose of cultivating sum1nerfallow land; and it has for its object to construct a machine of this class which shall be simple, durable, inexpensive, and easily manipulated, and which shall act as a thorough and effective stalk and weed cutter and exterminator.

Vith these ends in view the invention consists in the improved construction, arrange ment, and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter1 fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings hereto annexed, Figure 1 is a perspective viewof my improved wheelcultivator. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same, taken to one side of the tongue and looking in the direction of the adj usting-lever. Fig. 3 is a detail view illustrating the means for connecting the drivers seat adjustably with the tongue.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

1 designates a U-shaped frame, the rear ends of the sides of which are bolted upon the ends of the axle 2, upon thespindles of which the wheels 3 3 are journaled. The tongue 4 is likewise bolted or otherwise secured to the under side of the axle and to the front crossbar of the frame. The under side of the axle is provided with eyebolts 5 5, to which are pivotally connected the arms G, having converging lower ends, to which the cultivatorblade 7 is firmly bolted, riveted, or otherwise secured. Said cultivator-blade may be of a length about equal to the length of the axle between the wheels; it maybe of any desired width--say from six to eight inches-and it is provided with a sharp front cutting-edge 8 and with an upturned rear edge 9, from which a series of elastic fingers or prongs 10 extend in an upward and rearward direction.

Journaled in suitable bearings transversely upon the frame 1 is a rock-shaft 11, having a hand-lever l2, provided with a spring-actu= ated catch 13, adapted to engage any one of a series of notches 1i in a segment 15, formed upon a brace 1G, which connects the front end or cross-bar of the frame l with the axle.

The rock-shaft 11 is provided with radiallyextending arms 17, which are connected by means of pivoted rods or pitmen 18 with the lower or front ends of the arms 6, carrying the cultivator-blade 7. It will thus be seen that by manipulating the lever 12 the rockshaft 11 may be turned so as to raise or lower the cultivator-blade, which latter may be re tained at any desired adjustment by the spring-actuated catch 13, engaging one of the notches 14 in the segment 15.

The tongue of the machine is provided on its upper side in front of the axle with a plate 19, having flanges 20, which are turned up wardly toward each other, so as to form guides for a longitudinallysliding plate 21, from the rear edge of which a spring 22 extends in an upward and rearward direction, carrying at its upper end the drivers seat 23. A pin or bolt 24' may be employed for retaining the plate 21 with its attachments in any desired position. It will thus be seen that the drivers seat is capable of being adjusted longitudinally to any desired position, thereby enabling the weight of the driver to be utilized for the purpose of holding the cultivatorblade to its work with any desired degree of forceA From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, the operation. and advantages of my invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains. The cultivator-blade, as will be seen, cuts u 'nder the sod, thereby severing the roots of the weeds and stalks and stubble. The sod is lifted over the upturned rear edge of the cutter and over the upwardlyextending elastic fingers, whereby itl is thoroughly broken and pulverized, leaving .the ground in excellent condition for subsequent operations.

Having thus described my invention, what I` claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, of the United States, is-f 1B The combination of the U -shaped frame, the axle having the supporting-wheels, the forwardlymonverging arms hinged to the under side of the axle, the blade or cutter secured to said arms, a rock-shaft mounted upon IOO verging arms hinged to the under side of the axle andcarrying the cultivator-blade at their lower ends, a rock-shaft journaled upon the frame and having radially-extending arms and a hand-lever, pitmen connecting the arms of the rock-shaft with the arms carrying vthe cultiivator-blade, a brace connecting theaxle with` the front end.` of thefra-me and. h. ving a notched segment, and a spring-catch attached to the hand-lever and engaging said notched segment, substantially as set forth.'

3. The combination of the frame, the tongue, the plate secured upon the latter and having upturned and inturnedanges, the plate mountedfslidingly inv the guidesA thus formed,

and the spring extending upwardly and rearwardly from said plate and carrying the driv- 'ers seat, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as myown Ihave hereto affixed my signature in presence oftwo Witnesses.

DOCTOR FRANKLIN HUNT.

Witnesses:l

J.` I. MoGoY., J.. E. CONNOR., 

